FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Steve Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear are joining an international call to action by directing that the lights be turned off on the state Capitol campus as part of the World Wildlife Federation’s “Earth Hour” this weekend.
On Saturday, March 28 beginning at 8:30 p.m. EDT, lights on the Kentucky Capitol grounds will go out as state government joins people all over the world in a stand for energy savings and the global environment. More than 80 countries and 1,800 cities, towns and municipalities have pledged to show their support for reduced energy consumption by flipping their light switches off during Earth Hour 2009.
“Kentucky’s demand for energy is projected to increase 40 percent by 2025. Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide are already affecting the global environment, and the nation’s security and economic future are threatened by our growing energy dependence,” said Gov. Steve Beshear. “We must find ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by increasing efficiency and conservation. Dimming the lights at our state Capitol is a symbolic step in that direction.”
“I hope that many Kentuckians will join us and tens of millions of other individuals, governments and businesses from across the world on Saturday in turning off their lights to support Earth Hour,” said Mrs. Beshear. “After the lights come back on, I hope that they will take action to reduce their energy consumption and employ some of the simple steps detailed on the greenteam.ky.gov Web site.”
Reducing energy use in government buildings is a critical element of “Intelligent Energy Choices for Kentucky’s Future,” the state’s first-ever comprehensive strategy for energy independence. In that plan, Gov. Beshear set ambitious, aggressive goals for the reduction of energy use in public facilities. By 2015, state facilities will reduce their energy consumption by 15 percent and 25 percent by 2025. By 2025, public facilities will reduce their carbon footprint by 50 percent.
“Buildings consume roughly one-third of our total energy use, more than 70 percent of our total electricity use, and account for more than one-third of total greenhouse gas emissions,” said Len Peters, secretary of the Energy and Environment Cabinet. “As an historic over-user of energy in Kentucky, we can achieve significant monetary and environmental benefits by reducing energy consumption in our offices, schools and homes, and is the reason why the energy plan leads with energy efficiency and conservation.”
In February 2009, Gov. Beshear ordered that state office buildings use a night and weekend setback plan to reduce lighting, heating and air conditioning costs when state offices are closed. At the same time, Gov. Beshear also released regulations to implement the High Performance Building Standards that were passed by the 2008 General Assembly. Under these standards, all new construction and major renovations of state facilities must be designed to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or Energy Star standards. These requirements put Kentucky among only 12 states that require such progressive energy efficiency standards for their state buildings.
“Kentucky has established new high-performance standards that place the Commonwealth’s buildings in the national vanguard of greening public facilities,” said Finance and Administration Secretary Jonathan Miller. “While turning out the Capitol lights for one hour is meant to be symbolic, our long-term commitment to reducing energy use and carbon emissions shows we’re serious about addressing the global climate change crisis.”
Beginning at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday evening, lights on the state Capitol campus including the Capitol Dome and the spotlights that illuminate the exterior Capitol walls, the Capitol Annex and the Governor’s Mansion, will be turned off. These lights will remain off until Sunday morning. The streetlights lining Capital Avenue and the lamps that illuminate walkways around the Capitol and Annex will remain on for public safety and security purposes.
The city of Frankfort and Franklin County will also be joining state government in this effort to promote energy conservation and responsibility.
Frankfort Mayor Gippy Graham said that the city will cut off all non-essential lights in the city buildings at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.
“I’m certainly pleased for the city of Frankfort to participate in this initiative,” said Mayor Graham. “I feel its incumbent upon each of us, whether individually, or as a local or state government, to demonstrate that energy conservation is critical to help improve the world in which we live.”
Franklin County will participate by shutting off lights at the Franklin County Courthouse, Courthouse Annex, Fiscal Court Annex and the Family Court Building, according to Franklin County Judge-Executive Ted Collins.
“I support the Governor’s concept and Franklin County wants to be a full participant in Earth Hour,” said Judge-Executive Collins. “We’re working to be as green as possible here in Franklin County by cutting back on energy usage, which in turn saves the county money and helps the environment. This is something everyone can do.”
For more information about Earth Hour 2009, visit http://www.earthhour.org/home/.
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